Dishwasher and rack assembly therefor

ABSTRACT

A dishwasher is provided in which heights of basket(s) of a rack assembly may be easily changed. The dishwasher may include a frame configured to be inserted into and withdraw from a washing tub and plurality of basket positioning device configured to receive and support basket(s) at different heights.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2006-138626 filed in Korea on Dec. 29, 2006, the entire contents ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

A dishwasher and a rack assembly therefor are disclosed herein.

2. Background Art

In general, a dishwasher is an apparatus that washes away food residueattached to dishware, such as bowls, spoons, chopsticks, and variousculinary tools (hereinafter, referred to collectively as “dishware”)using a detergent and wash water. The dishwasher may include a washingtub or space having a cavity of a predetermined size. One or more rackassembly, in which dishes may be placed, may be provided and beconfigured to be inserted into and withdrawn from the washing tub. Awash water spraying apparatus that sprays wash water onto the dishesplaced in the rack assembly is provided in the washing tub. In thedishwasher having the above structure, after the dishes are placed inthe one or more rack assembly, the one or more rack assembly is pushedinside of the washing tub. Then, the wash water spraying apparatussprays the wash water at high pressure onto the one or more rackassembly to wash the dishes using the wash water.

Among the dishes, a plurality of cutleries and culinary tools that arenarrow and long may be provided in the one or more rack assembly in aline separated from each other. The cutleries may include a knife, aspoon, and a fork. The culinary tools may include a ladle, a kitchenknife, and a turner.

However, in the related art dishwasher, it is not possible to or it isvery difficult to change the heights of the one or more rack assembly.Therefore, there are limitations on controlling the heights of the oneor more rack assembly in accordance with the kinds of the dishes to bewashed and the space efficiency of the washing tub deteriorates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the followingdrawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a dishwasher according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a frame and baskets of a rackassembly of the dishwasher of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the basketsillustrated in FIG. 2 are provided in the frame in a first position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the baskets and the frame illustrated in FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the baskets and the frame illustrated in FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the basketsillustrated in FIG. 2 are provided in the frame in a second position;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the baskets and the frame illustrated in FIG.6;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are front views illustrating a state in which thebaskets illustrated in FIG. 2 are provided in the frame in first andsecond positions, respectively;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a frame and basketsin a rack assembly of a dishwasher according to another embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the basketsillustrated in FIG. 9 are provided in the frame in a first position;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the baskets and the frame illustrated in FIG.10; and

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the basketsillustrated in FIG. 9 are provided in the frame in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, likereference numerals have been used throughout the drawings to refer tothe same as like parts.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a dishwasher according to anembodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a frame andbaskets of a rack assembly of the dishwasher of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is aperspective view illustrating a state in which the baskets illustratedin FIG. 2 are provided in the frame in a first position. FIG. 4 is aplan view of the baskets and the frame illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 isa front view of the baskets and the frame illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 6is a plan view illustrating a state in which the baskets illustrated inFIG. 2 are provided in the frame in a second position. FIG. 7 is a frontview of the baskets and the frame illustrated in FIG. 6. FIGS. 8A and 8Bare front views illustrating a state in which the baskets illustrated inFIG. 2 are provided in the frame in the first and second positions,respectively.

Referring to FIG. 1, a dishwasher 1 may include a washing tub or space 3provided in a cabinet 2 and having a cavity of a predetermined size, oneor more rack assemblies 4, 5, and 6 that are configured to be insertedinto and withdrawn from in the washing tub 3 and in which dishes may beplaced, and a was water spraying apparatus 7 provided in the washing tub3 to spray wash water onto the dishes placed in the rack assemblies 4,5, and 6. An entrance or opening 8 may be formed on the front surface ofthe cabinet 2 and the washing tub 3, and a door 9 that opens and closesthe entrance 8 may be rotatably attached in the cabinet 2. The door 9may be opened and closed in a drop-down manner.

The wash water spraying apparatus 7 sprays the wash water onto thedishes placed in the rack assemblies 4, 5, and 6. The wash waterspraying apparatus 7 may include a pump (not shown) provided between thecabinet 2 and the washing tub 3 to pump the wash water, a plurality ofnozzles 10 that spray the wash water pumped by the pump onto the dishes,and a wash water channel 11 formed between the nozzles 10 and the pump.The nozzles 10 may be provided at a lower side and/or the upper side ofthe rack assemblies 4, 5, and 6.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows three rack assemblies 4, 5, and 6arranged in a column fashion in the washing tub 3. That is, the firstrack assembly 4 and the second rack assembly 5 may be provided,respectively, in a lower portion and in a middle portion of the washingtub 3, and the third rack assembly 6 may be provided in an upper portionof the washing tub 3. Large dishware, such as dishes and bowls, may beprovided in the first rack assembly 4 and the second rack assembly 5 andsmaller dishware, such as cutleries and culinary tools, may be providedin the third rack assembly 6. However, one or more rack assemblies maybe provided in the washing tub in accordance with the design conditionsof the dishwasher and the kinds of dishes to be placed in the rackassemblies may vary.

The rack assemblies 4, 5, and 6 may include racks 12 and 13, in whichthe dishes are placed, and movement guides 14 and 15 that movablysupport the racks 12 and 13 to move in a forward and backward direction.The racks 12 and 13 may be in the form of a grill so that the wash watersprayed from the wash water spraying apparatus 7 may be effectivelytransmitted to the dishes therein. The racks 12 of the first rackassembly 4 and the second rack assembly 5 may be formed, for example, ofmetal rods in the form of the grill. The rack 13 of the third rackassembly 6 may include baskets 30 molded in the form of a grill. Themovement guide 14 of the first rack assembly 4 may include a pluralityof wheels rotatably provided under the rack 12 so that the rack 12 movesalong internal surfaces of the door 9 and the washing tub 3. Themovement guides 15 of the second rack assembly 5 and the third rackassembly 6 may include rollers 16 provided on both sides of the racks 12and 13 and guide rails 17 formed on both sides of the washing tub 3 toguide the movement of the rollers 16. Alternatively, the guide rails 17may be formed on both sides of the racks 12 and 13 and the rollers 16may be provided on both sides of the washing tub 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the rack 13 of the third rack assembly 6 mayinclude a frame 20 configured to be inserted into and withdrawn from thewashing tub 3 by the movement guide 15 and baskets 30 that aredetachably mounted in the frame 20 and in which a plurality of dishholders 31 that support the cutleries and the culinary tools may beformed. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame 20 may be, for example, arectangular frame formed of, for example, steel rods. The frame 20 mayinclude an upper frame 21 and a lower frame 22, both of which may berectangular, separated from each other in an up and down direction,connecting frames 23 that connect the upper frame 21 and the lower frame22 to each other and that include a plurality of settling units orbaskets positioning devices 25 in or on which the baskets 30 aresupported, and a dividing frame 26 that divides the space limited by theupper frame 21 and the lower frame 22 into a plurality of spaces. Therollers 16 may be provided on both sides of the upper frame 21 and thelower frame 22 to correspond to the guide rails 17 formed on the washingtub 3.

The dividing frame 26 may divide the space limited by the frame 20 intoa plurality of basket settling or basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b.The dividing frame 26 may be formed of, for example, double framesseparated from each other in an up and down direction to correspond tothe upper frame 21 and the lower frame 22. The baskets 30 may be sizedto correspond to the sizes of the basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 band may be detachably provided in the basket receiving spaces 20 a and20 b. Further, at least two of the basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 bmay have the same shape. In the case that the baskets 30 provided in thebasket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b have the same shape, they can beexchanged with each other and the baskets 30 commonly used. Oneembodiment will be disclosed herein below in which the space limited bythe frame 20 is divided by the dividing frame 26 into side-by-sidebasket receiving spaces and the divided spaces of the frame 20 have thesame shape. That is, the basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b mayinclude a left basket receiving space 20 a formed on a left side of thespace limited by the frame 20 and the dividing frame 26 and a rightbasket receiving space 20 b formed on the right side of the spacelimited by the frame 20 and the dividing frame 26 to have the same shapeas the shape of the left basket settling space 20 a. Baskets 30 may beprovided in each of the left basket receiving space 20 a and the rightbasket receiving space 20 b, respectively.

The connecting frames 23 may be provided on a front surface and a rearsurface of the upper frame 21 and the lower frame 22 to face each other.The connecting frames 23 may include a plurality of connecting devicesor units 24, upper and lower parts of which are connected to the upperframe 21 and the lower frame 22, respectively, and supporting devices orunits 25 that protrude from the connecting devices 24 to the insides ofthe basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b and on which the baskets 30are supported.

The supported devices 25 may include at least one of supportingprotrusions or supporting grooves in which the baskets 30 are supported.Hereinafter, an embodiment will be discussed for which the supportingdevices 25 include supporting protrusions. That is, both ends of thesupporting devices 25 may be connected to the two connecting devices 24and the intermediate parts of the supporting devices 25 may extendedlyprotrude to the insides of the basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b.The supporting devices 25 may be formed in both the left basketreceiving space 20 a and the right basket receiving space 20 b.

The supporting device 25 of the left basket receiving space 20 a mayinclude first, second, third, and fourth supporting protrusions 41, 42,43, and 44 that protrude to the inside of the right basket receivingspace 20 a. The first and second supporting protrusions 41 and 42 may beformed in the connecting frame 23 provided on a rear surface of theframe 20. The third and fourth receiving protrusions 43 and 44 may beformed in the connecting frame 23 provided on a front surface of a frame20 to face the first and second receiving protrusions 41 and 42. Thatis, the first receiving protrusion 41 and the third receiving protrusion43 may be provided on the front surface and the rear surface of facingsurfaces of the frame 20 so as to face each other. The second supportingprotrusion 42 and the forth settling protrusion 44 may be provided inthe front surface and the rear surface of the facing surfaces of frame20 to face each other. Therefore, the first supporting protrusion 41 andthe second supporting protrusion 42 may be provided in the connectingframe 23 provided on the front surface of the frame 20 from side to sideto be separated from each other. The third supporting protrusion 43 andthe fourth supporting protrusion 44 may be provided in the connectingframe 23 provided on the rear surface of the frame 20 frame in aside-to-side direction separated from each other.

The first and third supporting protrusions 41 and 43 may have the sameheight and the second and fourth supporting protrusions 42 and 44 may bepositioned lower than the first and third supporting protrusions 41 and43. However, when the first and third supporting protrusions 41 and 43are higher than the second and fourth supporting protrusions 42 and 44,the first and third supporting protrusions 41 and 43 or the second andfourth supporting protrusions 42 and 44 may have different heights.

The supporting devices 25 of the left basket receiving space 20 a andthe right basket receiving space 20 b may be symmetrical with respect toeach other. Hereinafter, an embodiment will be discussed in which thesupporting devices 25 of the left basket receiving space 20 a and theright basket receiving space 20 b may be symmetrical with respect toeach other and the dividing frame 26. That is, the supporting devices 25of the right basket receiving space 20 b may include first, second,third, and fourth supporting protrusions 41, 42, 43, and 44 so thatfront and rear and right and left are reversed with respect to thefirst, second, third, and fourth supporting protrusions 41, 42, 43, and44 of the left basket receiving space 20 a. Therefore, in the supportingdevices 25 of the left basket receiving space 20 a, the first supportingprotrusions 41 may be provided in the rear on the left side, the secondsupporting protrusions 42 may be provided in the rear on the right side,the third supporting protrusions 43 may be provided in front on the leftside, and the fourth supporting protrusions 44 may be provided in fronton the right side. However, in the supporting devices 25 of the rightbasket receiving space 20 b, the first supporting protrusions 41 may beprovided in front on the right side, the second supporting protrusions42 may be provided in front on the left side, the third supportingprotrusions 43 may be provided in the rear on the right side, and thefourth supporting protrusions 44 may be provided in the rear on the leftside.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the baskets 30 may be basket shaped molds inwhich the cutleries and the culinary tools may be accommodated. Thebaskets 30 may be detachably provided in the basket receiving spaces 20a and 20 b formed in the frame 20. A plurality of dish holders 31 intowhich the cutleries and the culinary tools may be inserted to be fixedthereto may be formed on the internal bottom surfaces of the baskets 30.The dish holders 31 may be provided in a line separated from each otherby a predetermined distance so that the cutleries and the culinary toolsmay be inserted into a center of the dish holders 31 to be fixedthereto. The dish holders 31 may be integrally molded on the internalbottom surfaces of the baskets 30.

Further, the baskets 30 may include a plurality of supported devices 32and 33 selectively supported on the first, second, third, and fourthsupporting protrusions 41, 42, 43, and 44 in a first or a secondposition. The supported devices 32 and 33 may include a plurality ofsupported protrusions selectively supported or positioned on the firstsecond, third, and fourth supporting protrusions 41, 42, 43, and 44 inaccordance with positions of the baskets 30 provided in the basketreceiving spaces 20 a and 20 b. That is, the supported devices 32 and 33may include the first supported protrusions 32 supported or positionedon the first supporting protrusions 41 in the first position of thebaskets 30 and supported or positioned on the fourth supportingprotrusions 44 in the second position of the baskets 30 and the secondsupported protrusions 33 supported or positioned on the third supportingprotrusions 43 in the first position of the basket 30 and supporting inthe second supporting protrusions 42 in the second position of thebaskets 30.

Therefore, the baskets 30 may be positioned high when the baskets 30 areprovided in the basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b of the frame 20 inthe first position and low when the baskets 30 are provided in thebasket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b of the frame 20 in the secondposition. In addition, the first position and the second position of thebaskets 30 may be rotated by 180°. That is, the baskets 30 may behorizontally rotated by 180° to be provided in one of the first andsecond positions.

The operation of the dishwasher according to an embodiment having theabove-described structure will be described hereinafter.

First, the door 9 may be opened to open the entrance 8 formed on thefront surface of the dishwasher 1 and the rack assemblies 4, 5, and 6taken out from inside of the washing tub 3. Various kinds of dishes tobe washed may be placed in the rack assemblies 4, 5, and 6. Then, therack assemblies 4, 5, and 6 may be pushed into the washing tub 3 and thedoor 9 closed to close the entrance 8. After the dishes are accommodatedin the washing tub 3 as described above, the dishwasher 1 may beoperated to wash the dishes placed in the rack assemblies 4, 5, and 6using the wash water from the wash water spraying apparatus 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, when the rack assemblies 4, 5, and 6 of thedishwasher 1 are provided and the third rack assembly 6 in an uppermostposition in the washing tub 3 includes the rack 13 that washes thecutleries and the culinary tools, the cutlery and the culinary tools maybe washed after being inserted into the dish holders 31 formed in thebaskets 30 of the third rack assembly 6. The baskets 30 may be providedin the frame 20 in the first position when low dishes, such as thecutleries, are placed therein and in the second position lower than thefirst position when smaller dishes, such as the culinary tools, areplaced therein.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the baskets 30 are provided in theframe 20 in the first position, the first supported protrusions 32 ofthe baskets 30 are supported or positioned on the first supportingprotrusions 41 of the frame 20 and the second supported protrusions 33of the baskets 30 are supported or positioned on the third supportingprotrusions 43 of the frame 20. Since the first and third supportingprotrusions 41 and 43 are higher than the second and fourth supportingprotrusions 42 and 44, the baskets 30 are provided on the frame 20.Therefore, when the smaller cutleries are provided in the baskets 30,the baskets 30 are provided in the first position so that the lowerspaces of the baskets 30 may be used.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the baskets 30 are provided in theframe 20 in the second position, the first supported protrusions 32 ofthe baskets 30 are supported or positioned on the fourth supportingprotrusions 44 of the frame 20 and the second supported protrusions 33of the baskets 30 are supported or positioned on the second supportingprotrusions 42 of the frame 20. Since the second and fourth supportingprotrusions 42 and 44 are lower than the first and third supportingprotrusions 41 and 43, the baskets 30 are provided under the frame 20.Therefore, larger culinary tools may be provided in the baskets 30 sothat the culinary tools can be washed.

As described above, the heights of the baskets 30 may be controlled byrotating the baskets 30 in the basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b ofthe frame 20 by 180° or by exchanging the baskets 30 provided in theleft basket receiving space 20 a and the right basket receiving space 20b with each other. Therefore, the heights of the baskets 30 may beeasily controlled or changed and, when dishes having various heights arewashed, the internal space of the washing tub 3 may be effectively used.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the baskets 30 may be provided in the leftbasket receiving space 20 a in one of the first and second positions andin the right basket receiving space 20 b in the other of the first andsecond positions. That is, since the basket 30 of the left basketreceiving space 20 a illustrated in FIG. 8A and the basket 30 of theright basket receiving space 20 b illustrated in FIG. 8B are provided inthe first position, the cutleries may be accommodated to be washed.Since the basket 30 of the right basket receiving space 20 b illustratedin FIG. 8A and the basket 30 of the left basket receiving space 20 aillustrated in FIG. 8B may be provided in the second position, theculinary tools may be accommodated to be washed. Since the baskets 30are provided in the frame 20 in different positions as described above,the cutleries and the culinary tools may be simultaneously washed asoccasion demands.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the baskets 30 may have a curvedbottom. The curved bottom of the baskets 30 allows dishware of varyingsizes to be accommodated therein.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a frame and basketsin a rack assembly of a dishwasher according to another embodiment. FIG.10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the basketsillustrated in FIG. 9 are provided in a frame in the first position.FIG. 11 is a plan view of the baskets and the frame illustrated in FIG.10. FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the basketsillustrated in FIG. 9 are provided in the frame in a second position. InFIGS. 9 to 12, like reference numerals have been used to indicate likeelements to the dishwasher illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8. Hereinafter,only reference numerals different from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8will be described.

The difference between the dishwasher according to this embodiment andthe dishwasher illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 lies in frame 120 and baskets130 of rack assembly 113. That is, in the rack assembly 113 illustratedin FIGS. 9 to 12, connecting frames 123 having fifth supportingprotrusions 45 and sixth supporting protrusions 46 may be formed to faceeach other on facing surfaces of the frame 120 where the first andsecond supporting protrusions 41 and 42 and the third and fourthsupporting protrusions 43 and 44 are not formed and supported devices 34may be further formed on sides of the baskets 30 to be selectivelysupported or positioned on the fifth supporting protrusions 45 and thesixth settling protrusions 46 in accordance with the first and secondpositions of the baskets 30.

In the left basket receiving space 20 a of the frame 20, the fifthsupporting protrusion 45 are provided in the dividing frame 26 and thesixth supporting protrusions 46 are provided on the left sides of theupper frame 21 and the lower frame 22 to face the fifth supportingprotrusions 45. The fifth supporting protrusions 45 are higher than thesixth supporting protrusions 46. The fifth supporting protrusions 45have the same height as the height of the first and third supportingprotrusions 41 and 43 and the sixth supporting protrusions 46 have thesame height as the height of the second and fourth supportingprotrusions 42 and 44.

In the right basket receiving space 20 b of the frame 20, the fifth andsixth supporting protrusions 45 and 46 are provided to face the fifthand sixth supporting protrusions 45 and 46 of the left basket receivingspace 20 a based on the dividing frame 26. That is, in the right basketreceiving space 20 b, the sixth supporting protrusions 46 are providedin the dividing frame 26 and the fifth supporting protrusions 45 areprovided on the right side of the frame 20 to face the sixth supportingprotrusions 46.

The supported devices 34 of the baskets 30 may include supported groovesthat are provided in the basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b in thefirst or second position so that the fifth supporting protrusions 45 andthe sixth supporting protrusions 46 may be selectively inserted into thesupported grooves 34. The supported grooves 34 are formed so that thetop surfaces of the supported grooves 34 are closed by one of the leftsurfaces and the right surfaces of the baskets 30 and that the supportedgrooves 34 may be locked by the top surfaces of the supported grooves 34after one of the fifth and sixth supporting protrusions 45 and 46 isinserted into the supported grooves 34.

On the other hand, on the sides where the supported grooves 34 are notformed between the left surfaces and the right surfaces of the baskets30, avoiding grooves 35 may be formed to correspond to the supportedgrooves 34 so that interference with the fifth and sixth supportingprotrusions 45 and 46 may be avoided. Therefore, when the position ofthe baskets 30 is changed, the supporting protrusions that are notinserted into the supported grooves 34 between the fifth and sixthsupporting protrusions 45 and 46 are inserted into the avoiding grooves35.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, when the baskets 30 may be provided in theframe 20 in the first position, the first supported protrusions 32 maybe settled in the first supporting protrusions 41 and the secondsupported protrusions 33 are settled in the third supporting protrusions43. The fifth supporting protrusions 45 may be inserted into and lockedby the supported grooves 34 and the sixth supporting protrusions 46 maybe provided in the avoiding grooves 35. Since the first, third, andfifth supporting protrusions 41, 43, and 45 are higher than the second,fourth, and sixth supporting protrusions 42, 44, and 46, the baskets 30may be provided on the frame 20.

Referring to FIG. 12, when the baskets 30 are provided in the frame 20in the second position, the first supported protrusions 32 may bepositioned on the fourth supporting protrusions 44 and the secondsupported protrusions 33 may be positioned on the second supportingprotrusions 42. The sixth supporting protrusions 46 are inserted intoand locked by the supported grooves 34 and the fifth supportingprotrusions 45 may be provided in the avoiding grooves 35. Since thesecond, fourth, and sixth supporting protrusions 42, 44, and 46 arelower than the first, third, and fifth supporting protrusions 41, 43,and 45, the baskets 30 are provided under the frame 20. As describedabove, according to this embodiments, since the baskets 30 are supportedleast three points within the basket receiving spaces 20 a and 20 b ofthe frame 20, the baskets 30 may be stably provided in comparison withthe case where the baskets 30 are supported at two points.

The basket positioning devices according to embodiments disclosed hereinmay be applied to one-column rack assemblies or two-column rackassemblies, as well as three-column rack assemblies. In addition, thebasket positioning devices according to embodiments disclosed herein mayhave various structures and various heights.

As described above, in the dishwasher according to embodiments disclosedherein, since the baskets are provided to have different heights in thefirst and second positions in the frame of the rack assemblies, theheights of the baskets of the rack assemblies are easily controlled orchanged. In addition, in the dishwasher according to embodimentsdisclosed herein, since the heights of the baskets of the rackassemblies are controlled, dishes of various sizes may be washed and thespace efficiency of the washing tub improved.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide a dishwasher in which heights ofparts of rack assemblies on which dishes are placed are easilycontrolled so that dishes of various sizes may be selectively washed andthat space efficiency of the washing tub improved. In accordance withone embodiment disclosed herein, there is provided a dishwasher thatincludes a frame drawably provided in a washing tub to include first,second, third, and fourth settling units and a first position settled inthe first and third settling units or a second position settled in thesecond and fourth settling units to be lower than the first position. Aspace limited by the frame may be divided into a plurality of spaces andthe first, second, third, and fourth settling units formed in thedivided spaces of the frames respectively. At least two of the dividedspaces of the frame may have the same shape and the first, second,third, and fourth settling units formed in the divided spaces of thesame shape may be symmetrical to each other.

The first position and the second position may be rotated by 180°. Inaddition, the first settling units and the third settling units may beformed on facing surfaces of the frame to face each other and the secondsettling units and the fourth settling units may be formed on facingsurfaces of the frame to face each other. In addition, the firstsettling units and the second settling units may be formed on one ofsurfaces of the frame to be separated from each other and the thirdsettling units and the fourth settling units may be formed on surfaceswhere the first and second settling units are not formed among thesurfaces of the frame to be separated from each other.

The first, second, third, and fourth settling units may include at leastone of settling protrusions and settling grooves in which the basketsare settled. The baskets may include a plurality of supporting unitsselectively settled in the first and third settling units and the secondand fourth settling units in accordance with the first position or thesecond position.

The first, second, third, and fourth settling units may include first,second, third, and fourth settling protrusions in which the supportingunits are settled and the supporting units may include a plurality ofsupporting grooves formed in the baskets so that the first and thirdsettling protrusions or the second and fourth settling protrusions areinserted into the supporting grooves. Avoiding grooves may be formed inparts corresponding to settling protrusions that are not inserted intothe supporting grooves in the baskets to avoid interference with thesettling protrusions that are not inserted into the supporting grooves.The supporting units may include first supporting units settled in thefirst settling units in the first position of the baskets and settled inthe fourth settling units in the second position of the baskets andsecond supporting units settled in the third settling units in the firstposition of the baskets and settled in the second settling units in thesecond position of the baskets.

The first and second settling units and the third and fourth settlingunits may be formed to face the facing surfaces of the frame. The firstand third settling units may have the same height and the second andfourth settling units may be lower than the first and third settlingunits and have the same height. Fifth settling units and sixth settlingunits having different heights may be formed on facing surfaces wherethe first and second settling units and the third and fourth settlingunits are not formed among the facing surfaces of the frame and thebaskets may further include third supporting units selectively settledin the fifth settling units and the sixth settling units in accordancewith the first and second positions.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A dishwasher, comprising: a case having a dishwashing space disposedtherein; and at least one rack assembly configured to receive dishwaretherein and to be inserted into and removed from the case, the rackassembly comprising: a frame; and at least one basket configured to besupported by the frame at at least two height levels, wherein the atleast one basket includes a first supporting device at each end thereof,wherein the frame includes a plurality of second supporting devicesconfigured to mate with the plurality of first supporting devices, andwherein each of the plurality of second supporting devices includes anupper supporting portion and a lower supporting portion, the uppersupporting portion being located vertically above the lower supportingportion, and the upper supporting portion and the lower supportingportion being located horizontally along a same straight line such thatthe height level of the at least one basket is changed by rotating theat least one basket 180 degrees.
 2. The dishwasher of claim 1, whereinthe at least one basket comprises at least two baskets configured to besupported on the frame adjacent to one another.
 3. The dishwasher ofclaim 2, wherein a height level of each of the at least two baskets ischanged by rotating the baskets 180 degrees.
 4. The dishwasher of claim2, wherein a height level of the at least two baskets is changed byreversing the positions of the two baskets.
 5. The dishwasher of claim2, wherein the at least two baskets are configured to be supported onthe frame both at a high height level, both at a low height level, orone at a high height level and one at a low height level.
 6. Thedishwasher of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first supporting deviceseach comprise a supporting hook.
 7. The dishwasher of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of second supporting devices comprises a plurality ofsupporting bars.
 8. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the uppersupporting portion and the lower supporting portion of each secondsupporting device are integrally formed.
 9. The dishwasher of claim 1,wherein the lower supporting portion extends from the upper supportingportion for each second supporting device.
 10. The dishwasher of claim1, wherein the upper supporting portion comprises a first supporting barand the lower supporting portion comprises a second supporting barconnected to the first supporting bar by a substantially verticallyextending connecting member.
 11. A rack assembly for a dishwasherconfigured to receive dishware therein and to be inserted into andremoved from a case of the dishwasher, the rack assembly comprising: aframe; and at least one basket configured to be supported by the frameat least two height levels, wherein the at least one basket includes afirst supporting device at each end thereof, wherein the frame includesa plurality of second supporting devices configured to mate with theplurality of first supporting devices, and wherein the plurality ofsecond supporting devices includes a second supporting devices at eachof two height levels such that the height level of the at least onebasket is changed by rotating the at least one basket 180 degrees. 12.The rack assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one basket comprisesat least two baskets configured to be supported on the frame adjacent toone another.
 13. The rack assembly of claim 12, wherein a height levelof each of the at least two baskets is changed by rotating the baskets180 degrees.
 14. The rack assembly of claim 12, wherein a height levelof the at least two baskets is changed by reversing the positions of thetwo baskets.
 15. The rack assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least twobaskets are configured to be supported on the frame both at a highheight level, both at a low height level, or one at a high height leveland one at a low height level.
 16. The rack assembly of claim 11,wherein the plurality of first supporting devices each comprises asupporting hook.
 17. The rack assembly of claim 11, wherein theplurality of second supporting devices comprise a plurality ofsupporting bars.
 18. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein the secondsupporting device at each of the two height levels comprises an uppersupporting portion integrally formed with a lower supporting portion.19. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein the second supporting device ateach of the two height levels comprises a lower supporting portion thatextends from an upper supporting portion.
 20. The dishwasher of claim11, wherein the second supporting device at each of the two heightlevels comprises an upper supporting portion comprising a firstsupporting bar and a lower supporting portion comprising a secondsupporting bar connected to the first supporting bar by a substantiallyvertically extending connecting member.
 21. A rack assembly for adishwasher configured to receive dishware therein and to be insertedinto and removed from a case of the dishwasher, the rack assemblycomprising: a frame; and a plurality of basket positioning devicesconfigured to receive and support at least one basket at least twoheight levels, wherein a space limited by the frame is divided into aplurality of basket receiving spaces that extend lengthwise in the samedirection, wherein at least two of the plurality of basket positioningdevices are formed in each of the plurality of basket receiving spaces,respectively, and are configured to receive and support the at least onebasket in the respective basket receiving space at the at least twoheight levels, and wherein the height level of the at least one basketis changed by shifting the at least one basket from one of the pluralityof basket receiving spaces to the adjacent basket receiving space or byrotating the at least one basket 180 degrees.
 22. The rack assembly ofclaim 21, wherein at least two of the plurality of basket receivingspaces have the same shape, and wherein the at least two of theplurality of basket positioning devices formed in each of the pluralityof basket receiving spaces are formed symmetrical to each other.
 23. Therack assembly of claim 22, wherein the at least two of the plurality ofbasket positioning devices formed in each of the plurality of basketreceiving spaces are formed symmetrical to each other so as to face eachother on opposite sides of the frame.
 24. The rack assembly of claim 21,wherein the plurality of basket receiving spaces comprises two basketreceiving spaces each provided with a plurality of basket positioningdevices configured to hold and support a basket within the respectivebasket receiving space such that the baskets are adjacent to oneanother.
 25. The dishwasher of claim 24, wherein the plurality of basketpositioning devices is configured such that a height level of the twobaskets is changed by reversing the positions of the two baskets. 26.The dishwasher of claim 24, wherein the plurality of basket positioningdevices are configured to support the two baskets on the frame both at ahigh height level, both at a low height level, or one at a high heightlevel and one at a low height level.
 27. The rack assembly of claim 21,wherein each of the plurality of basket positioning devices comprises atleast one of a protrusion or a groove on or in which the basket ispositioned.
 28. A dishwasher comprising the rack assembly of claim 21.29. The dishwasher of claim 21, wherein the at least two of theplurality of basket positioning devices formed in each of the pluralityof basket receiving spaces comprise an upper supporting portionintegrally formed with a lower supporting portion.
 30. The dishwasher ofclaim 21, wherein the at least two of the plurality of basketpositioning devices formed in each of the plurality of basket receivingspaces comprise a lower supporting portion that extends from an uppersupporting portion.
 31. The dishwasher of claim 21, wherein the at leasttwo of the plurality of basket positioning devices formed in each of theplurality of basket receiving spaces comprise an upper supportingportion comprising a first supporting bar and a lower supporting portioncomprising a second supporting bar connected to the first supporting barby a substantially vertically extending connecting member.